CriticalDance Forum

The Seattle Times ran an extensive series of articles on the new hall in the Sunday, June 22 edition. This link will take you to the McCaw Hall feature homepage:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/news/entertainment/mccaw

One more preview piece, by Carole Beers in the King County Journal:

http://www.kingcountyjournal.com/sited/story/html/135088

A few items from the non-arts news sections regarding the current status of fundraising completion for McCaw Hall.

From the Editorial page of the Seattle Times:

http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=operaed23&date=20030623

A follow-up report to an earlier article by Jim Brunner in the Seattle Times, updated with information on this week's City Council action to extend the timeline on the bridge loan of City funds to afford the Seattle Center Foundation additional time to close the $4 million private funding shortfall (and, most likely, replace the public funding commitment that has failed to materialize with additional private fundraising):

http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=mccaw24m&date=20030624

An article by Kathy Mulady in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer on the same subject:

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/127920_opera24.html

The good news in all of this is that Pacific Northwest Ballet and Seattle Opera are able to dodge the Mayor's Draconian proposal to force them to apply (presumably substantial) facility surcharges to each ticket sold as a means of collecting the shortfall for at least two years. If the private fundraising now under discussion falls short, the City will return with a demand letter....

One more preview piece from Jen Graves in the Tacoma News Tribune:

http://www.tribnet.com/entertainment/story/3349419p-3380372c.html

I saw a brief summary of the constructio on a local PBS channel the other night and I got the impression that this really is a fabulous place. I am looking forward to seeing it this weekend!!
One good thing about the shortfall though, is - like it or not- the place is built. Fortunately we caught the tail end of the internet bubble just in time!

The documentary, "A Hall for All" will be repeated tonight at 7:00 p.m., just before the SFB Othello broadcast at 7:30 p.m. on KCTS Channel 9 in Seattle. It is well worth the half hour.

<small>[ 25 June 2003, 03:29 PM: Message edited by: Francis Timlin ]</small>

I did a "walk through" last night of the Marion Oliver McCaw Hall. The gala and public open house will be this weekend. It is just GORGEOUS! The colors of the Susan Brotman Auditorium are teal, shades of purple and red. The soaring lines of the balconies and mezzanines, the open, expansive lobby space, and beautiful, airy courtyard all make for a space that all Seattle-ites can be proud of. Ahhhh! It is truly a magical place.

Thanks for the advance look, Trina. And now, from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer editorial page, another bit of helpful commentary:

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/128207_ophalled.html

An article on access to the new hall:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/artsentertainment/135103914_access27.html

Mike Murray previews the hall in the Everett Herald:

http://www.heraldnet.com/ae/story.cfm?file=03062717119362.cfm

I am pleased to report that an additional $2.2 million has been received from an anonymous donor. Of the outstanding $4 million promised from private sources, this most recent donation reduces the outstanding balance to $1.8 million.

It wasn't me! :p
Someone asked me what the best part of opening night was, and I have to say that it was just seeing the big smiles on the PNB dancers faces at the end of the night. I am excited for myself, but even more excited for them. What a great place this is going to be for dances in the years to come!

"It wasn't me!"

OK, you're forgiven. But at least pick up the tab for the remaining $1.8m, Matthew.

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See also our topic in Ballet on <a href=http://forum.criticaldance.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=4;t=002048>Marion O. McCaw Hall (Seattle Opera House) Opening Gala, June 28, 2003</a>.

<small>[ 05 August 2003, 01:32 PM: Message edited by: Azlan ]</small>